1. Circle the correct answer from the choices in the sentences below. a) The theory that Americans, even though we come from different backgrounds, come together and behave very similarly as “Americans” is known as (Assimilation Theory/ Multiculturalism Theory). b) The theory that Americans, even though we are all Americans, are still separated by our different cultures and life experiences is known as (Assimilation Theory /Multiculturalism Theory). Assimilation Theory Multiculturalism Theory

Quick Review: -In a natural disaster, would a liberal or conservative person believe that the federal government should step in to make sure enough aid is given to those in need? _______________________

4. Discuss: What would you do to make racial groups more EQUAL in this country? What sort of policy, law, or idea would you have to try to change things?

I. Discrimination Diversity can lead to discrimination when people do not respect one another 1. Guess what this type of discrimination means: TypeWhat is it? Sexism Racism Ageism Classism

Discrimination occurs often in: 1) Hiring 2) Housing 3) Access to Resources How does discrimination play out in each of these scenarios?: Hiring Housing Access to Resources

In order to prevent discrimination, the government has tried to pass laws that prevent people or businesses from discriminating Examples: -Civil Rights Act (1964) -American with Disabilities Act (1990) -Affirmative Action (1965)

II. Affirmative Action =government laws and policies that allow factors including race, color, religion, gender, and sexual orientation to be taken into consideration when hiring or admitting people 3. Let’s put affirmative action in our own words:

A. Purposes  Affirmative Action is used to benefit underrepresented groups in society to make up for a history of discrimination 4. WHO benefits from affirmative action policies? WHO DOESN’T?

 Affirmative Action is also supposed to prevent institutionalized racism -Institutionalized racism=racism that occurs across all parts of society (in government, in prisons, in education, in private companies)

B. Examples of affirmative action:  Accepting a black male to a college over a white male  Promoting a female worker over a male worker  A business can have a quota (or certain number) of how many “black” people it must hire, how many “Hispanic” people, and how many “disabled” people 6. What does a quota do for the number of white people who apply for the job?

III. Complaints Against Affirmative Action A. University of California vs Bakke=a famous 1978 Supreme Court case about affirmative action It started when a white guy named Bakke applied and got denied from the University of California medical school because he was white. The medical school had a quota it had to meet (in other words, it was SAVING 16 places for “qualified” minorities) Bakke had a higher GPA and better test scores than all of the minorities. He sued the university saying he was discriminated against and that the minorities got “preferential treatment”

8. What did the US Supreme Court decide? What do you think?...

In a VERY close decision The Supreme Court concluded that though race could not be the basis for excluding a candidate, race may be one of many factors in admissions considerations.

Discuss: Who does affirmative action seem to “discriminate against” according to some people?

B. Post-Racial Society Some people think that Affirmative Action has become unnecessary because we are all considered equal today. Instead, we should live in a “color blind” society where we don’t even think about race when making decisions. These people think we should stop affirmative action because it protects discrimination against some but keeps discriminating against others

Discuss: Do you think we live in a “color blind” society? Why or why not?

**Answer the pre-video questions before we begin.

Look at the 4 political cartoons. Answer the 4 questions below about EACH cartoon: 1. Explain what is happening in the political cartoon. What is being said? What is going on? 2. Explain what the political cartoon is trying to say about affirmative action. 3. Say whether the cartoon has a liberal (left) or conservative (right) stance. -Are conservatives more or less likely to agree with affirmative action? 4. Say whether you agree or disagree with what the cartoon is saying about affirmative action.

What does this comic mean?

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